Valve structure for gas burners



Feb. 24, 1953 H. L. GIWOSKY 2,629,394

VALVE STRUCTURE FOR GAS BURNERS Filed June so, 1948 2 swans-$412121 1 5 n "Wm 1953 H. L. GIWOSKY VALVE STRUCTURE FOR GAS BURNERS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed June 50, 1948 Patented Feb. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE STRUCTURE FOR GAS BURNERS Harry L. Giwosky, Wichita, Kans., assignor to The Coleman Company, 1110., Wichita, Kans., a corporation of Kansas Application June 30, 1948, Serial N0. 36,015

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a valve structure for gas burners. The invention is particularly useful in the controlling of gas supplied to the pilot and main burner and in the provision for interchangeable manual and automatic regulating means.

An object of the present invention is to provide a safety pilot structure readily adaptable for automatic control or manual control, while at the same time providing means for insuring that the gas conduit to the main burner is closed when the pilot is lighted. Yet another object is to provide a valve structure equipped with bypasses permitting the ready addition of a solenoid-operated valve to a manually-operated control structure. A still further object is to provide a safety pilot valve structure equipped with means for automatically closing a control valve when the pilot flame ceases burning, while at the same time providing a bypass arrangement by means of which a U-type automatic valve may be readily secured to the structure while permitting closure of the passage employed in connection with manual operation. A still further object is to provide a floating valve packing structure equipped with means for sealing the packing when the shaft is in down position while releasing the packing when the valve stem is moved to a raised position, thus eliminating the possibility of the main valve being held in open position due to friction between the packing and the casing. A further object is to provide a novel valve casing provided with an inlet and outlet chamber communicating through a valve seat, the valve seat being controlled by a spring-urged valve manually movable to open position and normally held in open position by means responsive to heat from the pilot flame, the valve casing being provided with a plurality of outlet ports equipped with removable closure means to permit bypassing of the gas in quickly converting the control structure from a manually-operated structure to an automatically-operated structure. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a single embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a side view in elevation and on a reduced scale; Fig. 3, a broken enlarged view of the burner employed, the view being taken from one side of the burner; Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional detail view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a transverse sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line -5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a broken top plan view showing the pilot valve control structure equipped with a solenoid valve-controlled fitting; and Fig. 7, an enlarged detail sectional View of the structure shown in Fig. 6, the section being taken as indicated at line 1-4 of Fig. 6.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusi-ve, ID designates a plate equipped with bracket supports for suspending the same within a heater and supporting a burner ll. Communieating with the burner H and extending therebelow is the usual air mixer pipe I2 having an open air intake at l3. Extending into the intake I3 is the main burner gas pipe l4. Since all of such structure is well known, a detailed description is believed unnecessary.

The main burner gas pipe l4 extends laterally from the burner, as shown best in Fig. 1, and communicates with a valve casing 15. Mounted in the gas line H is a rotary plug valve structure It. and the valve stem 1'! extends upwardly for manual operation. ,In a floor-type heater, the manuallywperated shaft or stem ll extends upwardly to an accessible point near the floor so that the operator can conveniently rotate the member I] to close or Open the rotary plug valve. Fixed to the stem 11 is an arcuate arm [8, the purpose of which is to insure the closing of the valve in the line 14 when the safety valve is opened. as will be later described.

The safety valve casing I5 is shown more learly in Fig. 5. The casing provides an inlet chamber [,9 closed at the bottom with a removable closure and equipped with a laterallyextending threaded port 2| for receiving a conduit leading to a source of gas.

The casin p ov d s also a upp u t chamber 22 which communicates through an aperture 23 with the inlet chamber I9 therebelow. A valve Seat is provided about the aperture 23 and a Valve 24 is normally urged by spring 25 toward the seat. A valve stem 26 of reduced cross section extends upwardly through the easing into a packing chamber 2'! and is fixed to a plunger 28. The plunger 28 is equipped with an annular recess 29 employed for releasably locking the plunger in lower position, as will be later described.

Within the packing chamber 2'! is a floating valve packing 30 which may be formed of synthetic rubber or any other suitable material. The packing tits snugly about the shaft 26 so as to eliminate all possibility of leaks between it and the shaft. A small spring 3| is fixed to the plunger and packing for sliding the packing on the shaft a limited distance when the plunger is moved from its maximum down position to the up position. Since the plunger moves a greater distance than the limited distance referred to, the packing is thus lifted well off the seat. This provision insures a gas-tight joint when the packing is in the down position and free frictionless motion when in the up position, thus eliminating any possibility of the main valve being held in an open position due to friction between the packing and the casting.

The casing I5 provides a laterally-extending outlet passage 32 on one side, and a laterallyextending outlet passage 33 on the other side, both being in full communication with the outlet chamber 22. There is provided, however, between the outlet chamber and the outlet passage 32 a threaded portion 34 adapted to receive a threaded closure plug 35, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7. The plug 35 is preferably equipped with a slot 36 to facilitate the screwing and unscrewing of the plug by means of a screw driver. The outer end of the fitting providing passage 32 is internally threaded to receive a closure plug 31. The plugs 35 and 31 are in alignment, and the inner plug 35 is smaller than the outer plug 31. Thus, ample room is provided for inserting the inner plug 35 when the outer plug 31 is removed.

The casing I5 is provided at its rear side with a flat surface 38 adapted to receive a closure plate 39. To facilitate the uniting of the closure plate readily to the casing I5, I prefer to equip the rear side of the casing with flanges 48 having tapped openings 4I therein for receiving attachment screws 42, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. The plate 39 closes a port 43 leading from the outlet passage 32. The plate also closes a similar port 44 leading from the outlet passage 33.

The main gas burner pipe I4 communicates with the outlet passage 32 at a point just about opposite the outlet 43. Similarly, the pilot pipe 45a communicates through a reduced opening with the outlet passage 33. The pilot pipe 45 extends upwardly through the plate I and has a discharge port adjacent the burner II thus forming a pilot burner 45b. The pilot tube 45 is also provided with a small aperture 46 for directing a flame rearwardly toward a bimetallic element 41 which will be later described in connection with the controlling of the safety valve 24. If desired, the pilot pipe 45a may be provided with a band-operated valve 450.

The plunger 28 controlling the safety valve 24 has an annular locking recess 29 adapted to be engaged by a locking bar 48, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. Secured to the locking bar 48 is an actuating stem 49 which is guided for longitudinal movement in a tube 50 extending between the valve casing I and the mixer tube I2. A spring 5I bears against a washer 52 held in position by the indentations 53 of the tube. The spring bears against the rear surface of the bar 48 and normally urges it toward locking position.

The rear end of tube 50 is threaded, and the nuts 54 and 55 clamp a bracket arm 56 rigidly upon the tube. The bracket arm 56 is provided at an intermediate point with a rearwardlypressed portion through which extends a pivot pin 5! pivotally connecting the movable momber 58 upon the fixed bracket 56.

At its upper end, the bracket 53 has spaced flanges 59 provided with slots 60. The movable member 58 extends between the flanges 59 and is riveted centrally to the bimetallic member 41. When the bimetallic member 41 bows as a result of the application of heat thereto, the ends of the member movable within slots 69 engage the walls of the bracket flanges 59 and produce a movement of the arm 58 for actuation of the rod 49. The lower end of the member 58 is slotted at 58a to receive the rod 49, and the nuts 49a secure the member 58 thereon, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

For the actuation of the plunger 28, I provide a member BI having depending legs 82 straddling a portion of the casing I5 and pivotally connected thereto by pin 83, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The member 6I has an end portion bearing against the plunger 28, and an upwardly-extending flange 64 adapted to be engaged by the valve stem arm I8.

The structure so far described is that employed for manual operation of the burner. When automatic operation is desired, th plate 39 On the rear side of casing I5 is removed, and the U-type valve fitting 65, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is attached to the casing. The fittin has flanges 66 which are readily secured by the screws 42 to the casing I5, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7. The fitting provides a manifold or U-shaped passage providing direct communication between the ports 44 and 43 of the casing I5. A solenoidcontrolled valve 61 controls the flow of gas from port 44 through the manifold passage to the chamber 32 and from thence through the main gas pipe I4 to the gas burner. The solenoid is in turn controlled by a thermostat as in the usual practice. Since such valve is of well-known construction, a detailed description is believed unnecessary. In order to cause the flow of gas from the inlet chamber I9 to pass rearwardly through the port 44, the inner screw plug 35 is placed in position, as illustrated best in Fig. 7, and the plug 31 is replaced so as to seal the outer end of passage 32. Gas now flows through the outlet port into fitting 55, past the valve 6 and thence, as shown best in Fig. 7, from the fitting passage into passage 32 which is closed on two sides by plugs 35 and 31 but which communicates on another side with pipe I4 leading to the main burner.

For supporting the valve casing I5, I prefer to extend the flanges 40 so as to provide the supporting straps 68 which may be provided with tapped openings 69 for receivin screws extending through a supporting structure (not shown).

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, the closure plate 39 is bolted in position so as to seal the ports 43 and 44, and the control of gas is effected by manual operation. To light the burner, the operator rotates the valve I6 stem I! to move the rotary valve to closed position. This movement brings arm I8 against the vertical flange 64 of the member 6| so that th end thereof adjacent the plunger 28 tips downwardly and depresses the plunger. The downward movement of plunger 28 forces the valve 24 away from its seat, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. At the same time, the spring 5I seeks to urge the looking bar 48 toward the position shown best in Fig. 4. The lighting of the pilot causes the flame Ward the burner and allows the spring to pressthe bar 49 into lockin position. The actuatin stem I! may then be rotated in the opposite d1- rection to open the rotary valve It so as to per-' mit the flow of gas through the main pipe HI to the gas burner.

As long as the flame is maintained in the pilot burner, the valve 24 is thus held in open position. Should the pilot came, however, fail, the bimetallic plate 4'! immediately cools and moves the actuating bar to the left so as to withdraw the locking bar 48 from engagement with the plunger 28. Spring 25 is thus freed to bring the safety valve 24 against its seat to close oif the flow of gas into the outlet chamber 22.

Should it be desired to use an automatic control rather than a manual control, the closure plate 39 may be removed and the U-fitting 65 substituted, as shown best in Figs. 6 and 7. At the same time, the inner plug 35, which i not employed in the manual operation just described, is inserted through the passage 32 and screwed into closing position, as illustrated in Fig. '7. The outer end of the passage 32 is likewise sealed by screwing plug 3'. into position. The gas now flows through the port 2|, inlet chamber 19, aperture 23, outlet chamber 22, outlet passage 33, outlet port M, and into the U-shaped passage of the fitting 65. Flow through the fitting is controlled by the solenoid-operated valve 61. The gas passing through the manifold enters passage 32 which is now sealed from the inlet chamber l9 by the plug 35 and closed at the other end by plug 31. From the passage 32,. gas passes through the pipe l t to the main burner, as i the former operation.

Should it be desired at any time to remove the automatically-operated valve fitting, this may be accomplished readily by reversing the steps just described. The screws 4?. are removed to permit the removal of fitting 65. and the closure plate 39 is again locked in position by the screws 42. At the same time, the inner plug 35 is removed and the outer plug 3'! replaced to seal the outer passage 32. The operation may now be manually controlled by rotating stem I! to feed the desired amount of gas to the burner and the gas passes through port 2| into chamber 19 and thence throu h aperture 23 into chamber 22. From chamber 22, a portion of the gas goes laterally through outlet passage 33 to the pilot conduit 450:. Another portion of the gas passes through the opening formerly occupied by the plug 35 and into the outlet passage 32, from which it flows into the main gas pipe I 4.

In prior installations, considerable expense and difficulty have been in olved in, chan ing the control structure from a manual control to an automatic control. The gas lines have had to be broken and the gas valve inserted and connected again. Extensive piping connections hav had to be made. With the present structure, the change is accomplished readily by the use of the inner threaded plug and by the flange-port structure, closed in one instance by a closure plate and in another instance connected by a U-fitting to provide automatic operation. By the use of the safety arm l8, the hazard involved by allowing the main burner to come on before the pilot is lighted is avoided and the operator is obliged to close the main burner line before opening the safety pilot valve. The floating valve packing employed with the safety valve stem insures a gas-tight joint when th stem i in.

down position while providing free frictionless:

motion when the stem is in up position.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set out certain structures in considerable detail.

for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a structure for controlling the gas supplied to the pilot burner and main burner of a heating appliance, the combination comprising a valve casing providing an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber communicating with each other through a valve seat, a stem-equipped valve, a spring urging said valve toward said seat, means for actuating said stem for opening said valve, said casing providing an outlet passage communieating with said outlet chamber on one side and an outlet passage communicating with said outlet chamber on the other side, said casingv providing a threaded portion between one of said outlet passages and said outlet chamber adapted to receive a closure member, a threaded plug closing the outer end of said last-mentioned outlet passage, 9,. main burner conduit communicat ing with said last-mentioned outlet passage, a pilot conduit communicating with the other outlet passage, each of said outlet passages having ports extending rearwardly therefrom, and a closure plate releasably secured to said casing for closing said last-mentioned ports, whereby said structure can be easily converted from manual to automatic operation by substituting a fitting having a conduit therein for said closure plate, removing said threaded plug, inserting a closure member in said threaded casing portion, and replacing said threaded plug.

2. In a structure for controlling the gas supplied to the pilot burner and main burner of a heating appliance, the combination comprising a valve casing providing an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber communicating with each other through a valve seat, a spring-urged valve controlling said seat, said casing providing an outlet passage leading from said outlet chamber, said casing having an annular portion equipped with internal threads between said outlet chamber and said passage, an outer plug of larger diameter threadedly engaging the casing to close the outer portion of said passage, a main burner conduit communicating with said outlet passage, said casing providing also a second outlet passage from said outlet chamber, a pilot conduit communicating with said second outlet passage, ports opening into said outlet passages through the rear wall of said casing, and a removable plate closing said ports, whereby said structure can be easily converted from manual to automatic operation by substituting a fitting having a conduit therein for said closure plate, removing said outer plug, inserting a threaded closure plug in said thread-equipped annular casing portion, and replacing said outer plug.

3. In a structure for controlling the gas supplied to the pilot burner and the main burner of a heating appliance, the combination comprising a valve casing providing an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber communicating with each other through a control valve, said casing providing an outlet passage leading from said outlet chamber, said casing having a restricted portion between said outlet chamber and said passage for receiving a plug to close said passage, a removable outer plug of larger diameter than asid restricted passage portion closing the outer portion of said passage, a main burner conduit communicating with said outlet passage, said casing providing also a second outlet passage from said outlet chamber, a pilot conduit communicating with said second outlet passage, ports opening into said outlet passages through the rear wall of said casing, and a removable plate closing said ports, whereby said structure can be easily converted from manual to automatic operation by substituting a fitting having a conduit therein for said closure plate, removing said outer plug, inserting a closure plug in said restricted passage portion, and replacing said outer plug.

4. In a structure for controlling the gas supplied to the pilot burner and the main burner of a heating appliance, the combination comprising a valve casing providing an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber communicating with each other through a control valve, said casing providing an outlet passage leading from said outlet, chamber, said casing having a restricted portion between said outlet chamber and said passage for receiving a plug to close said passage, a main burner conduit communicating with said outlet passage, said casing providing also a second outlet passage from said outlet chamber, a pilot conduit communicating with said second outlet passage, ports opening into said outlet passages through the rear wall of said casing, and a removable plate closing said ports, whereby said structure can be easily converted from manual to automatic operation by steps including substituting a fitting having a conduit therein for said closure plate and inserting a closure plug in said restricted passage portion.

HARRY L. GIWOSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

